Compared to phone calls, Jing Tian preferred sending messages.

After informing Zheng Xunqian that he had made other arrangements for tomorrow, Zheng Xunqian quickly replied.

Just like before, it was a simple one-word reply: “Oh.”

Without further questioning, Jing Tian didn’t offer any additional explanation.

Feeling inexplicably guilty, he sent another message half an hour later, saying that Zheng Xunqian had been working hard lately and hoped he could rest well.

Zheng Xunqian’s reply was as expected.

“Oh.”

Sitting at the desk, Jing Tian asked Yang Yue, who was already tucked under the covers, “If someone always replies to you with just ‘oh’ when chatting, does it mean they don’t want to talk to you?”

Yang Yue rolled over, “I don’t know if they want to talk to me, but I definitely don’t want to talk to someone like that.”

“…Why?” Jing Tian asked.

“It’s dismissive, impolite, disrespectful,” Yang Yue said. “If someone replied to me like that, I’d get angry.”

Jing Tian thought to himself that it was a bit exaggerated.

He wouldn’t get angry; at most, he would feel a bit strange.

If he had to describe it, it might be a feeling of disappointment.

If Zheng Xunqian followed up with another question, he would be willing to chat a bit longer.

“Could it be… that they didn’t think much about it and just wanted to acknowledge receiving the message?” Jing Tian tried to find a more comforting explanation.

“This is basic social etiquette,” Yang Yue said. “You can still answer politely and warmly to acknowledge receiving the message!”

“For example?”

“If it were me, I’d at least reply with ‘oh oh,’ ‘mm hmm,’ ‘okay oh,’ ‘got it,’ or something similar,” Yang Yue said. “Responding with just ‘oh’ is worse than sending an OK emoji!”

Jing Tian imagined how Zheng Xunqian would say these things and shuddered.

“Who’s talking to you like that?” Yang Yue asked. “It’s not… Zheng Xunqian again, is it?”

“…” Jing Tian laughed awkwardly.

He thought Yang Yue would continue to criticize him, but unexpectedly, he started laughing, “His words are understandable.”

“Why?” Jing Tian asked, puzzled.

“This person’s social logic is obviously different from normal people,” Yang Yue said. “It’s scarier when they act all polite and courteous like normal people.”

Jing Tian thought for a moment and said, “Actually, he… isn’t that weird. He’s very polite in his daily interactions, and… he’s quite articulate.”

Zheng Xunqian wasn’t fond of initiating conversations with strangers, but when necessary, he always spoke very politely.

When they went out to eat together, he would always say “please” and “thank you” to the waiter.

During their last phone call with Teacher Xia, not only did he behave very decently, but he also deliberately and naturally praised Jing Tian.

Upon hearing this, Yang Yue laughed again, “You’re still defending him. Tell me honestly, how far have you progressed with him?”

“We haven’t done anything!” Jing Tian emphasized loudly, then added in a whisper, “We haven’t even held hands.”

That incident at the library entrance probably didn’t count.

Rather than holding hands, it was more like Zheng Xunqian was holding his hand unilaterally.

“But he’s seen everything,” Yang Yue said.

Jing Tian was stunned and blushed.

Yang Yue leaned against the edge of the bed again, just like last time, and smiled mischievously, “And, he misses you, wants to see you again.”

Jing Tian turned away without looking at him, leaving him with just his back.

“Shy?” Yang Yue asked.

“You’re so strange,” Jing Tian said, “You say he’s abnormal, but it seems like… you really want me to be with him.”

Yang Yue thought for a moment and said, “Maybe because he’s originally abnormal, it makes him seem especially serious about you now.”

“What kind of logic is that?” Jing Tian couldn’t understand.

“It’s like someone who’s always known to be stingy suddenly decides to give away all their assets to you without expecting anything in return, isn’t that true love?” Yang Yue said.

“And, with his personality, you don’t have to worry about him being fickle,” Yang Yue said. “Except for you, he doesn’t pay attention to anyone else. Doesn’t that feel secure?”

“You’re blushing.”

Yang Yue said.

“I don’t want to date,” Jing Tian turned his head, “I just want to study hard.”

“Dating isn’t a bad thing,” Yang Yue sighed, “You’re so stubborn.”

“If I don’t date, I’ll have more time to hang out with you, isn’t that good?” Jing Tian asked.

“That’s nice,” Yang Yue settled back in the middle of the bed, “but…”

“But what?”

“You’ve finally become confident and outgoing, and just like that, you’re back to your old self,” Yang Yue said, “…You’re really great, you’re worth being liked by someone. It would be best if there was someone to remind you of that all the time.”

“You must have had feelings for him when you were with him,” Yang Yue said, “It’s a pity it turned into such a misunderstanding.”

“He’s such a self-centered person, nobody else catches his eye, but he’s infatuated with you,” Yang Yue said, “You might not realize it, but there are quite a few girls who secretly like him.”

“Do you realize how charming you are?”

Jing Tian felt embarrassed for a moment, then couldn’t help but chuckle, “What a mess.”

After a moment, he said in a much softer voice than before, “Thank you.”

….

The bar called RESET was two stops away from A University, and it only took twenty minutes to walk there.

As they got closer to their destination, Jing Tian became increasingly nervous.

“Don’t worry, it’s not that kind of shady place,” Yang Yue reassured him, “You used to like coming here!”

Jing Tian looked serious and nodded slightly, “What do we need to do after we get in?”

“Sit down, order a drink, do whatever you want,” Yang Yue said.

That was too vague and didn’t make Jing Tian feel any safer.

Yang Yue patted his back firmly, “You’ll see when we get there!”

The entrance of the bar was much more low-key and elegant than Jing Tian had imagined.

But when they pushed open the heavy wooden door, the music with a strong rhythm pouring out from inside made him tense up.

Yang Yue grabbed his hand and dragged the slightly nervous Jing Tian inside.

They arrived a bit late, and the rest of the eating, drinking, and playing team had already settled in.

As Yang Yue pulled him to join everyone, Jing Tian was blinded by the lights from the nearby dance floor.

“Long time no see!” a guy named Achen waved enthusiastically from the table and sang loudly, “Do you know I’ve been waiting for you!”

His voice was loud and off-key, and everyone around burst into laughter, which made Jing Tian laugh along.

Once they were seated, it didn’t feel much different from the last time at the KTV.

Dim lights, noisy surroundings, people singing and shouting.

Instead of urging him to sing, this time his friends suggested he join them on the dance floor.

“Don’t worry, just jump around randomly, no one here is a professional, nobody will care about you,” Yang Yue said, “Just do whatever makes you comfortable, it’s very stress-relieving and fun!”

Jing Tian thought to himself, please spare me, I’m happiest sitting here watching you guys jump around.

Seeing his reluctance, Yang Yue didn’t force him anymore and sat with him on the couch to chat.

“Aren’t you joining them?” Jing Tian asked.

“It’ll be boring for you to sit here alone,” Yang Yue said, “Unless you accompany me.”

Jing Tian shrank back, “It’s okay, I’m not alone, it’s okay.”

Yang Yue leaned in and whispered in his ear, “You don’t remember them, you’re so unfamiliar with them, If I leave, you’ll definitely feel awkward.”

Jing Tian blinked, took a deep breath, and stood up, “Let’s go then!”

Yang Yue was surprised but quickly stood up too, “Let’s go!”

This place was more fun than he imagined.

Jing Tian soon realized that standing still on the dance floor would attract attention, but as long as he moved with the rhythm, nobody would pay him any mind.

His movements were probably stiff and unattractive, but as he danced with the rhythm, after the initial embarrassment and tension, he really felt an ambiguous sense of relief.

He completely understood why his past self liked coming here.

During this time, the unfamiliar environment, new relationships, and urgent study tasks had brought him too much pressure.

Now, with the strong rhythm of electronic music and the stimulating flashing lights, those things that made him irritable and reserved were all thrown out of his body.

From swaying slightly like the people around him to sweating profusely from dancing, Jing Tian felt unsatisfied.

Back at his seat, he picked up a bottle of soda and drank most of it in one gulp.

“Was it fun?” Yang Yue asked.

Jing Tian put down the soda bottle, took a long breath, and smiled.

He must have looked like a lunatic just now.

But damn, it was so much fun!

Jing Tian sat back on the sofa, secretly surprised by the swear word he had silently muttered in his mind just now.

But soon, he felt relieved again.

At this moment, all the elegant descriptions were not as powerful as these simple and crude words.

Beside him, AChen suggested playing blackjack and drinking as a punishment for losing.

Jing Tian neither knew how to play blackjack nor how to drink alcohol.

But now he was courageous and willing to try anything.

“Don’t be too impulsive,” Yang Yue whispered in his ear again, “Your tolerance for alcohol is very average!”

Jing Tian was ultimately an honest person. Upon hearing this, he immediately backed off, lifting the bottle of soda he had just drunk from and asking if he could use it as a substitute.

The girl sitting opposite him burst into laughter at the sight, “That’s alcohol!”

Jing Tian was shocked.

He had thought of resting for a while before going dancing again, but now it seemed impossible.

His head was spinning, feeling hot-headed and feverish, his skin burning hot.

“Sorry, I’ve never seen this before, I don’t know it’s alcohol,” Yang Yue also drank most of the bottle without any problem, “Are you okay?”

“I’m great,” Jing Tian said.

His brain was bubbling, gurgling. This feeling was so fresh, really interesting.

Yang Yue frowned, “…Looks like it’s not too good. Close your eyes and rest for a while, and when you feel better, we’ll leave, okay?”

Jing Tian didn’t reply.

Since dancing in the club, he had become somewhat excited, more impulsive than usual.

Alcohol had inhibited his ability to act, but it had also ignited a restless fire in his blood.

“I’m feeling really great right now!” He swayed and raised his hand, giving two thumbs up.

Yang Yue sighed, amused and exasperated.

Jing Tian stared blankly for a moment, then took out his phone from his pocket and muttered, “I’m going to post on my Moments.”

Saying that, he took a picture of the messy table, then another of the lively dance floor. Finally, he switched to the front camera, lifted his other hand in a V sign towards the lens, and pressed the shutter button.

The photos didn’t turn out very good.

His cheeks were flushed, his expression a bit vacant, and he smiled foolishly, looking a bit dim-witted.

He uploaded all the photos without reservation, and with fervor, typed out a line of text.

——Happy!!!!